BMW Maintenance?

[Slipstream]

I'll apologize now for my question, knowing that it's been asked and answered before, but....
....I'm close to purchasing a Cooper (from a Chevy dealer's used car lot, if you can believe it)......I'll be moving to Alabama in a month or so, and I've learned that there's absolutely no Mini dealerships in AL, the closest ones being in Atlanta and Nashville....so, the question is: Could I get the Mini serviced (warranty and all certified inspections) done at the local Montgomery, Alabama BMW dealership?

Thanks in advance....the answer will determine whether I pursue the purchase of the Cooper.

--Slipstream

[NEMINI]

for the definative answer call 1-866-ASK-MINI ... I'd be guessing no because BMW dealers do not have the software, tools or training needed but MINIUSA would know for sure about states without dealers

[Slipstream]

Thanks for the information--I'll give them a call!

[NEMINI]

You are quite welcome, I hope it works out for you

[Dark Silver S]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong....

I thought BMW dealers could send a tech to 'Mini school' and then do authorized maintenance.

Slip, if you're getting a Cooper from a Chevy dealer, will it still have factory warranty? If not, you might be better off finding a local repair place that will do Minis.

[stryder]

I'm pretty sure you're wrong DSS, but MINIUSA may have changed their policy. Best to call.

Remember: MINI maintence is only at 10,000 miles, then every 15K after that, so even if you need to drive to the dealer, besides any warranty repairs, you're not going very often.

One other random point: How much are you paying for this MINI from a Chevy dealer? From the experience of all the people posting on here, usually used MINIs from any retail place are rather expensive, especially since you can just walk into a MINI dealer and get one at MSRP brand new and be guarenteed it'll be treaten correctly. (Never know what happened to a used MINI from a dealer, it could have been a demo car or something else).

Or you could wait 2 months and order one exactly as you like it, which is even better (and avoid paying for options you don't want)

[Dark Silver S]

Quote: Originally Posted by stryder

I'm pretty sure you're wrong DSS,

I would have guessed as much.

[Slipstream]

Quote: Originally Posted by stryder

I'm pretty sure you're wrong DSS, but MINIUSA may have changed their policy. Best to call.

Remember: MINI maintence is only at 10,000 miles, then every 15K after that, so even if you need to drive to the dealer, besides any warranty repairs, you're not going very often.

One other random point: How much are you paying for this MINI from a Chevy dealer? From the experience of all the people posting on here, usually used MINIs from any retail place are rather expensive, especially since you can just walk into a MINI dealer and get one at MSRP brand new and be guarenteed it'll be treaten correctly. (Never know what happened to a used MINI from a dealer, it could have been a demo car or something else).

Or you could wait 2 months and order one exactly as you like it, which is even better (and avoid paying for options you don't want)

--Good info from all of you..it's greatly appreciated.

Called Mini HQs, and as was alluded to in this forum thread, they confirmed that all inspections/warranty work etc. had to be done at a certified Mini Dealership, NOT a generic BMW dealership. The closest Mini dealer to where I'll be moving to is Atlanta, GA...a 2 1/2 hour drive away. Sorry, but that's too far for me. I'm looking at making my life simpler, not more complicated.

The Chevy dealership (Lorain, OH) is asking $19,600 for a 2002 Cooper with the Sport package, Silver metallic paint, CD player, and heated seats. The car has only 2,300 miles on it, and is immaculate.

Thanks to all for the info and advice!
--Slippy

[stryder]

Well, you still might want to get a MINI, but it will complicate life for service, so perhaps once you've settled in AL, you can look again. 2 1/2 hours isn't awful for service for such a great car.

FYI:

A 2002 Cooper cost $17K new.
Metallic Paint: $400
Sport Package: $1250 ($1300 on '04s)
Heated Seats: (Probably includes heated mirrors + wipers) Is Cold Weather package: $300

All cars have CD standard (Cassette is a no-cost option)

Total cost new: 18,950, Replacement cost $19000.

They're charging $600 more then you could drive up to Mentor and buy a brand new one! Oh, and its 2 years old, and with 2300 miles, smells very much like it was a demo car, if someone had traded it, they probably would have put more like 5-10,000 miles.

Check out the pricing at www.miniusa.com for more info and such, and drive up to mentor and take a test drive, maybe you'll decide its worth the distance for repairs. MINI pays for free towing to the nearest dealer if you have any problems and can't drive to the dealer.

[Slipstream]

You're right, they're asking too much for the Mini....I'd already run the numbers on the Mini website ('Build Your Own') and realized that they are smoking something.

I'd drive over to Mentor, but it's over an hour away. (I'm in Amherst, OH)

Does Classic Mini in Mentor price gouge? Judging from their extensive inventory, I was assuming that they charge (well) over and above MSRP. What are your experiences with them?

Bottom Line still holds though: I'd LOVE to buy a Mini, but not if there's no maintenance support in the general vicinity of where I will live--life's too short to spend 2 1/2 hours driving to DROP off the Mini (on a weekday), drive 2 1/2 back, and then repeat the process to retrieve it when the service is done, for a grand total of 10+ hours of "wasted" time.

Trust me, my heart sank when the Mini representative informed me that their vehicles couldn't be serviced at a BMW dealership. Unfortunately it's a "deal-killer" for me.

[stryder]

Give them a call before you drive then, I figured you were closer to Lorain. You should be able to get most info.

Classic was adding on a mandatory package last year, but since demand has dried up, they're not doing that last I heard, many people from other high-demand places have ordered from them and be happy. Check the dealer feedback forum.

They don't have an extensive inventory due to gouging, they cars aren't just as popular anymore, and most people want to order, I'm sure most of their inventory is from cancelled orders, but I bet anyone you talk to there will explain it.

My experience with them is only from service, (which while not the quickest, they did get everything I needed fixed) so I can't say much about their sales, but they seemed friendly and low key the few times I stopped by the showroom..

Assuming the dealers don't have saturday service (many do) you'd be wasting 10 hours once a year, unless you drive an incredible amount, then it'd still be every 15K miles. Sure, its a waste of time, (except its driving in your MINI which is a fun experience) but its not very often, compare it to the amount of time you'd spend driving to work in the same car and actually enjoying it.

Plenty of the first owners, especially in Texas had dealers over 500 miles away, its not as big of an issue for only 2 1/2 hours if you don't mind the drive. I guess it depends on your personality, I don't consider 2 1/2 hours a drive even worth mentioning, I'd regularly go that far to visit people for the day or to something specific. (Like driving to Pittsburgh to do some shopping)

[ipartridge]

Off topic I know but I was interested in the thread. 2 1/2 hours to shop? That's holiday travelling, we would think twice before spending more than 30 min travelling to the shops (even 'special' christmas shopping etc

[stryder]

I can explain 2 1/2 hours to shop:
A. Gas is cheap, so 2 1/2 hours of driving costs me about $5 (say 100 miles @ 1.50/gallon/30 miles/gallon)
B. Stuff is just more spread out. 2 1/2 hours is going to the next closest city (in that direction), so some things don't repeat. The store I'm talking about in particular is Ikea, but I've also gone to go to speciality grocery stores and other things

I wouldn't drive more then 30 minutes for weekly grocery shopping or getting dinner or something, but the ocasional trip 2 1/2 hours isn't a big deal if its for something I want.

I also like shopping, I guess I should admit that.

Don't people in the UK go to the Continenent for shopping trips ever?

[Pobsey]

You dont go very far from home on holiday or you drive with a lead right foot!!!:-D